Search - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Antal Dorati, London Symphony Orchestra :: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5; March Slav; Waltz & Polonaise from Eugene Onegin

Best recording of Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony out there!

04/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Antal Dorati's recording of Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony is simply the best recording of this work you will ever hear. Dorati's tempos are absolutely perfect and he has a very good feeling for the Romantic urgency of this symphony, creating a performance that is exciting, romantic, and emotionally intense all at the same time. I've heard many recordings of this work and none of them come close to Dorati's. The main theme of the first movement is played at exactly the right tempo, making it very memorable and exciting. The second movement's beautiful themes are done so perfectly here that you will wonder what other recordings missed in this score. While Dorati's tempos are deliberate, they are never too fast to miss the passion of this movement like many others (including Mravinsky/Leningrad) do.The scherzo is playful and fun, but the real showcase here is the final movement. Most recordings are unable to hold the development and transition of this movement together, but Dorati succeeds masterfully where others fail. He plays it fast, but not too fast, and the excitement that he and the London SO create has to be heard to be believed. It becomes literally a rush to the finish and the final reworking of the main theme has never sounded so good as in this recording.
The sound quality is just unbelievable for a recording this old (1961). Mercury's razor sharp sound quality faithfully duplicates the concert hall experience, with the instruments sounding as if they're being played in your room (especially the brass!). The only thing that gives away that it's an older recording is the slight background hiss in the quieter parts that should not bother anyone. Otherwise the sound is as good as it gets.
The other pieces on the CD are wonderful. At first I was a bit concerned by the somewhat long running time for March Slav (10:37), but Dorati's performance had all the pyrotechnics and sound effects that this military march needs, and the result is very exciting. The excerps from Eugene Onegin are delightful, played with just the light touch they need; Dorati the ballet conductor displays his talents in these pieces.
All in all, this is the recording of Tchaikovsky's Fifth to own, even if you already own 100 recordings of it. This CD confirms Antal Dorati's reputation as the ultimate Tchaikovsky conductor."

EXTRAORDINARIO

Francisco J. Muñoz | Santa Cruz, Bolivia | 03/30/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"La primera vez que escuche esta interpretación fue hace más de 25 años atrás, cuando en realidad era un niño, con mi padre, él me dijo: "Escucha es como si Peter Tchaikovsky estuviera dirigiendo la orquesta, en la noche del estreno de Carneige Hall" (El Carneige fue estrenado P.I. Tchaikovsky con la quinta sinf.). Desde entonces amé mucho ésta interpretación de Antal Dorati. Ojo que fuera del valor sentimental que tiene para mí ésta grabación, la interpretación en sí de Dorati es COLOSAL, vigorosa y con ese elemento de inspiración que raras veces se dan.Gran compra, 100% RECOMENDADO"